Chapter 21 The Domineering CEO
Headquarters building of Changsheng Group, Beijing.
It was almost nine o'clock, and most of the secretariat workstations were still empty. The usually shrewd and capable secretaries all crowded into the tea room, enjoying their last free time before starting work.
While skillfully brewing coffee, they actively shared the latest gossip circulating in the company.
Such as which two departments have so-and-so secretly dating, which department's leader was caught having an affair by his wife and is now absent from work, which couple in a secret relationship broke up...
Suddenly someone asked, "Has Director Wu been asking you about General Manager Yan these past few days?"
The harmonious atmosphere in the tea room suddenly fell into an eerie silence.
Director Wu is one of their direct superiors in the President's Office Secretariat, nominally, and his job is usually to guide them in their work.
The other party was actually an informant planted in the president's office by another shareholder of the group.
They knew this, Assistant Hong knew this, and President Yan knew this too.
No one spoke in the break room, but the silence spoke volumes.
After a while, the newly arrived secretary Qi couldn't help but say, "I heard some rumors from Director Wu that General Manager Yan... has gone missing."
The last three words were almost pronounced with a breath.
"Shh!" The most senior Wei Jie gave her a warning glare: "Don't say things like that lightly!"
Secretary Qi nodded repeatedly: "Don't worry, Sister Wei, I understand. I'll just say it in front of you."
As the group of people closest to President Yan Chen, they knew all too well how much truth there was in this rumor.
The reason for such secrecy is that the news... is very likely true.
"...No wonder the workload has been much lighter lately; everyone has been leaving get off work on time for two weeks in a row," someone muttered quietly.
Everyone knows that Mr. Yan is a workaholic machine who loves his job.
Although the overtime pay is high, they still prefer to leave work on time.
However, compared to President Yan's safety...
Sigh, isn't there a way to have the best of both worlds—to get President Yan back safely and for them to leave work on time?
"Duoduo." After knocking on the door to remind him, Hong Yue walked into the tea room with an empty cup: "Good morning, everyone."
"Good morning, Assistant." The gossipy secretaries were startled and responded in unison.
The coffee that hadn't been brewed properly for half a day was brewed in no time, and then everyone pushed and shoved each other to run out.
"Assistant, we'll go to work now. There's fresh milk in the refrigerator, please make your milk at your leisure!"
"Okay, thanks for reminding me." Hong Yue smiled and nodded.
Once he was alone in the tea room, the smile on his face gradually faded, and he sighed silently.
After searching for more than half a month, he still had no trace of Yan Chen. He ruled out kidnapping and sometimes even suspected that some of the group's audacious rivals had imprisoned Yan Chen.
The fact that the group's chairman and president had been absent from public view for a long time, coupled with the instigation of certain old-timers behind the scenes, has led to growing dissatisfaction within the board of directors.
He can't hold out for much longer.
If there is still no news about Yan Chen by the end of the month, the board of directors cannot keep it a secret, and the board will not agree to publicly disclose his disappearance, as this would affect the stock price.
In the end, it was still a covert investigation.
Hong Yue returned to his office, rubbing his temples wearily.
Before I could even sit down and have a sip of coffee, the office door was rudely pushed open from the outside, and Director Wu, whom the secretaries had mentioned earlier, swaggered in.
He had a thin face and narrow eyes, his hair was slicked back, and he deliberately wore an oversized suit that made him look like a salesman. He spoke to Hong Yue with a smiling, tiger-like expression:
"Assistant Hong, the disappearance of the group chairman is a serious matter. Have you considered whether you can bear the responsibility of the board of directors holding you accountable after the incident, given that you have gone to such lengths to cover it up?"
This wasn't the first time Hong Yue had heard similar probing questions; in fact, it had become increasingly frequent recently.
He put down his coffee, turned around, and smiled calmly at the person who came in: "Director Wu is joking. President Yan has clearly not disappeared, so why should I bear any responsibility?"
"Is that so? Then may I ask where Chairman Yan is now? I have an urgent matter to report to him in person," said Director Wu, who was carefully observing his expression.
“If Chairman Yan still cannot show up,” Director Wu sneered, “even if he is the largest shareholder in the group, the board of directors should convene a new vote to elect the most capable person.”
Their eyes met in the air, and Hong Yue's mind raced as he quickly considered a solution.
He can no longer use excuses like being sick, going abroad, or going on a business trip; he must provide more direct and compelling evidence.
Just then, a cell phone rang on the desk.
Hong Yue quickly picked up the phone without letting Director Wu see who was calling, but he didn't dare to answer it immediately either.
He feared that Su Yu would bring more bad news.
"Why isn't Assistant Hong answering the phone? Answer it, important business is at hand," Director Wu said with a smile, his previous assertive demeanor gone.
Hong Yue hesitated for a moment before answering the phone, and his spirits lifted instantly after hearing what was said on the other end.
He asked to confirm, "Are you sure?"
Su Yu's voice was firm and resolute: "I'm sure it's him, it's Brother Yan Chen, I can't possibly be wrong!"
"However, we were in opposite lanes and driving in the opposite direction, so I couldn't catch up with him immediately and call out to him."
"But at least we have a clue. I'm going to the traffic bureau right away to ask them to help me check the surveillance footage and confirm the whereabouts of that car."
"That's great." With a huge weight lifted from his heart, Hong Yue breathed a sigh of relief.
With Director Wu present, he couldn't ask too directly. He nodded to the other person, turned to the side, lowered his voice, and asked indirectly, "What do you think of his appearance?"
"...full of vigor and radiant with joy." Su Yu gritted her teeth as she recalled the scene after calming down.
They're so worried they can't eat, but Yan Chen is fine, why doesn't he contact them since nothing's wrong!
He asked Hong Yue this question, feeling wronged.
“You can ask him yourself once you find him,” Hong Yue said.
Yan Chen's ability to appear on his own effectively ruled out the possibility of him being imprisoned; he had indeed been overthinking things.
He had a vague suspicion about Yan Chen's situation.
"I have something to do here, I'll contact you later."
After ending the call, Hong Yue looked at Director Wu and said, "Director Wu just said that you have something urgent to report to General Manager Yan, right? I also have something to discuss with General Manager Yan, so why don't we go together?"
Director Wu looked suspicious.
What's going on? Why is Hong Yue suddenly inviting him out?
He said skeptically, "No need, just tell me where General Manager Yan is."
Hong Yue nodded: "That's fine. President Yan is on an inspection tour in Xia Province. Contact me when you get there."
Then he turned on the internal phone on his desk and asked his secretary to book a flight to Xia Province.
His calm and composed attitude made Director Wu even more anxious.
Could it be that President Yan actually didn't disappear?
Why did he keep quiet before? Was it a sting operation to eliminate dissidents?
Oh no, I have to tell Chairman Hu about this guess right away.
Out of caution, before leaving, Director Wu asked one more question: "Didn't the inspection in Xia Province end at the beginning of the month? Why is General Manager Yan still there?"
Hong Yue smiled: "After all, it is one of the group's key projects for the next three years, and it is also related to the layout of the domestic tourism industry. It is not unreasonable for the inspection to take a little longer, right?"
"Hehe, yes, yes." Director Wu chuckled awkwardly.
With tourism projects being incubated simultaneously in five major regions across the country, they're taking such big steps without fear of making a mess of things.
He simply refused to believe that Yan Chen never made a mistake in his decisions!
*
I'm going out now, I'll bring you something delicious when I get back. Get some rest, and remember to come downstairs for breakfast.
—Yan Chen
The handwriting on the note was bold and elegant, with strokes as sharp as iron hooks and silver lines.
After reading the note, Qingran slipped it into the law book she had just started reading last night, then turned and went to the bathroom.
While he was washing up, the system kept chattering happily in his mind's eye.
One moment they're marveling at the destined bond between the official couple, the next they're excited about the prospect of completing their mission—they never seem to have a moment's peace.
[Host, are you happy?] Not only was he happy, but he also had to ask Qingran's feelings.
Qingran looked up at the wet face in the mirror, her eyebrows like ink paintings and her eyes like black lacquer.
A faint, alluring smile curved her lips: [Of course.]
I used a towel to wipe the excess water from my face and left the bathroom to take a look at the kitchen.
The house they rented didn't have air conditioning, but it did have a refrigerator.
Thanks to my two-day hospital stay, the food in the refrigerator ran out before I had a chance to replenish it.
No wonder Yan Chen asked him to come downstairs to eat.
Thinking that the other person should be home soon, Qingran was too lazy to go downstairs and did nothing, so she nestled on the living room sofa and closed her eyes to rest.
Since Su Yu saw Yan Chen in Lan County, she will probably find this place within three days.
Three days.
Three days...
"Click." Yan Chen opened the door with his key and entered the room carrying a bag.
It was not yet 9:30 in the morning, and the man deliberately moved very quietly, worried that Qingran was still sleeping in the bedroom.
I didn't want to turn into the living room and see someone fast asleep on the sofa.
I gently placed the bag on the table, washed my hands, and squatted down in front of the sofa.
The sleeping person is facing outwards, their body slightly curled up, their head resting on a pillow. Their face is red with lips and fair skin, and their long, delicate eyelashes droop down, reminiscent of the wings of a butterfly encased in amber.
Her hands were relaxed and curled up beside her cheeks.
The fingers are long and slender, the nails are neatly trimmed, the nail bed is a healthy pink, and there is a white crescent at the base.
The wrist is large enough to be gripped with one hand, with crisscrossing blue veins, but it is actually quite strong, not as delicate as it looks...
Qingran, who had been waiting for ten minutes to see what Yan Chen would do, was speechless: "..."
[He's taking advantage of you with his eyes, host.] The system complained.
Now, it looks at Yan Chen with the same feeling it has towards a pig that has stolen its own cabbage; the nose isn't a nose, and the eyes aren't eyes.
"Are you just going to watch and do nothing?" Qingran opened her eyes and sighed, "I would be very disappointed."
"Did I wake you up?" the man asked gently, seeing his lover awake.
What wakes you up? Your breathing?
System rant.
Qingran shook her head, sat up straight, and affectionately complained to him, "I'm not asleep, but I'm waiting for you to kiss me awake."
Yan Chen chuckled: "It's my fault, but I hope it's not too late now."
He knelt on one knee on the sofa, leaned over and exchanged a kiss with his lover, then sat down and pulled her into his arms.
He gently massaged his lover's supple waist to help her relax, and whispered in her ear, "Is there anything that's bothering you?"
The magnetic voice was like a feather brushing against the eardrum, bringing an indescribable itch.
Qingran rubbed her ears, straddled the man's lap, and wrapped her arms around his neck: "Are you asking about last night or now?"
Yan Chen raised an eyebrow at him.
Qingran smiled broadly.
"...Isn't that a bit too blunt?"
"You don't like it?"
Unless one is a saint who has completely renounced all desires and passions, it would be difficult for anyone to say they dislike the vivid and sensual scenes from their memories.
If you don't answer, that means you like it.
A repressed, secretly passionate person.
Qingran's smile widened: "Whether it was last night or now, my feelings are the opposite of Achen's~"
The system was extremely tense; could this atmosphere mean... it used some power to hack into Su Yu's phone through the network and eavesdrop?
[Host, Su Yu has begun checking the surveillance footage to trace the vehicle's whereabouts.]
[Shh. ]
She gently lifted the man's handsome face, and their intimate whispers faded as their lips met.
"Ah Chen, kiss me again."
A note from the author:
I've started a pre-order for a new book, "Forced to Become Famous Due to My CP (couple) Nature) [Entertainment Industry]", please add it to your favorites!
After dying from overwork, Jianming Shu was reborn through the attendance tracking system.
The system rules are rigid, but its functions are powerful.
[3km run completed (0/3 days), physical fitness +0.1]
[Skincare routine check-in (0/3 days), appearance +0.1]
[Check-in for etiquette course (0/3 days), etiquette +0.1]
[...]
For any needs, simply select the daily check-in content, and the system will generate a task with a clear reward.
Jianming Shu, a poor man who dreamed of getting rich every day, immediately had a bold idea.
So many people make money in the entertainment industry, why can't there be one more?
Compared to those who are oddly shaped and have terrible acting skills, I can't say how good his acting is, but at least he has some good looks.
Later I actually got into the circle—
Jianming Shu: Hmm, this entertainment industry seems different from what I imagined?
The flamboyant and unrestrained captain of a top international boy band casually walked by, raised his chin, and asked him, "Hey, I heard you like recording dance cover videos? Want me to teach you?"
The popular actor, known for his handsome appearance and refined demeanor, took great care of him during the film's promotion, smiling brightly as he said, "You can ask me anything you don't understand."
The reigning queen of the music scene messaged him late at night: "I'm having a concert next month, can I invite you to be the opening act?"
There was even an e-sports champion who was just as arrogant as he was in terms of looks and skills. When he was called a noob on a TV show, he said, "If you're bad, practice more. Come to my room tonight."
Because of her inexplicable affinity for being paired with other celebrities, Jian Mingshu became an internet sensation!
*
The main characters are career-driven, while the couples are romance-driven.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com